Combination step/toolbox platform, A.K.A. The yeti step.

ABSTRACT

The platform assembly is a combination of step and toolbox storage space and can be easily installed and removed from the rungs of an extension ladder. The assembly includes a platform with angled vertical sides and hooked over the ladder side rails. The platform has a hinged lid with latch for access to the tool box attached to the bottom of the inward facing portion of the platform assembly. The tool box storage area is created by pieces of angled, plate, and flat bar aluminum. Two parallel downward angled pieces of aluminum on the bottom of the outward facing portion of the platform create a channel for the ladder rung to fit into as the platform assembly is installed on the extension ladder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The combination step/toolbox platform assembly invention was designed as an inwardly extending platform for a conventional extension ladder. This inwardly extending platform is both safe and comfortable to use while installing, standing on, and removing said platform. The platform assembly is strong enough to support the weight of a person and light enough to be easily installed onto and removed from a conventional extension ladder with one hand.

[0002] To make the step platform more versatile, a storage area under the step platform was designed to hold tools or other supplies while using a conventional extension ladder. The step platform assembly, when installed, can be used as a small work surface when a person is standing on the rungs of a conventional extension ladder with the step platform assembly in front of the person.

[0003] Several attempts have been made to provide a stable and suitable step platform assembly which is both safe and comfortable to use while installing, standing on, and removing said platform assembly. One approach has been to provide an inwardly extending platform assembly which extends away from the person standing on a conventional extension ladder. Another approach to provide a step platform has been an assembly which extends from the conventional extension ladder towards the person standing on said ladder. This would be described as an outwardly extending step platform.

[0004] An inwardly extending step platform in many, if not all instances, is more desirable because there is less interferance with a person ascending and descending a conventional extension ladder. Also, an inwardly extending step platform is safer as it provides a center of gravity below and towards the vertical surface structure on which the ladder is supported at the upper ends of its side rails and, as opposed to the outwardly extending step platform, the inwardly extending platform allows the user to be closer to the ladder to use for ‘hands on’ support and added safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This invention is an inwardly extending step platform with storage area that is safe and strong enough to use because of its engagement of ladder rungs, as well as flared side angles that allow contact and support from the side rails of a conventional extension ladder.

[0006] The primary objective of the invention is to provide the user a large surface area to stand on which is much safer and more comfortable instead of a single rung or even two rungs of a conventional extension ladder.

[0007] Another object of said platform is to provide a convenient storage space for items to be used by the user after having ascended a conventional extension ladder.

[0008] An additional object of such a platform is to provide a surface area that the user of said platform can use as a work surface while standing on a conventional extension ladder.

[0009] An additional object of said platform is to provide easy installation and removal from a conventional extension ladder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the following four drawings, wherein:

[0011]FIG. 1 is an elevation side view of the platform assembly shown mounted on a conventional extension ladder, which is depicted in phantom lines;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the platform assembly of this invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the platform assembly; and

[0014]FIG. 4 is a close-up of the cutouts on side support pieces (3).

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] These drawings show a platform assembly (8) which is designed to be mounted on a conventional extension ladder (7) of the style having elongated side rails (10) and rungs (11) which are mounted in between and attached to the side rails (10). Same attachments can be riveted, but are preferably welded.

[0016] As the drawings show, the rungs (11) may be of the conventional D-cross section, with the upper surface being flat. The ladder side rails (also conventional) have an upper and a lower end with the upper rails contacting a vertical surface or supporting structure (such as a building) and lower ends contacting a horizontal surface for support (such as the ground or floor). These surfaces are not shown.

[0017] The platform assembly (8) includes rectangular step plates (4 & 16), which are formed of heavy aluminum material (minimum of {fraction (1/8)} inch thickness) having a standard diamond pattern on the upper surface for traction. The platform plate (16) is attached to plate (4) by a piano hinge that allows for platform plate piece (4) to fold upwards and towards user and thus enable access to storage compartment of the platform assembly (8). Platform plate (16) is secured closed by a latch assembly (15) to keep contents contained in storage area when platform assembly (8) is being moved, installed, or un-installed on ladder. The platform assembly (8) has a rectangular piece of aluminum plate (14) that is dimensionally the same size as the area formed inside of the U-shaped aluminum support piece (5) and platform assembly piece (13) which is attached at its ends to the parallel sides of the U-shaped support piece (5) so it is parallel to the long front side of the U-shaped aluminum support piece (5). The plate (14) is attached inside at the bottom of U-shaped aluminum support piece (5) and assembly piece (13) to form storage compartment.

[0018] The Platform Assembly (8) has a 2×2 inch angled aluminum piece (1) that is attached to the bottom surface of the platform plate (4). One side of the angled aluminum piece (1) is attached to the bottom surface and flush to the front edge and side edges of platform plate (4). The other side of angled aluminum piece (1) extends beyond side edges of platform plate (4) and is on an angle parallel with ladder side rails (10) and contacts ladder side rails (10) for support.

[0019] The platform assembly (8) has a 2×2 inch 90° angle piece of aluminum (6) that is attached with side bottom edges flush to the edge and to the bottom surface of platform plate (4) with one side angled down 90° to contact and brace against ladder rung (11) and other side of 90° angled piece of aluminum (6) edge contacting end of U-shaped aluminum support piece (5) on bottom of platform plates (4 & 16).

[0020] A pair of aluminum side support pieces (3) are attached flush with the bottom edge of the U-shaped side support aluminum piece (5). The side support pieces are shaped with an upward angle that is parallel with the ladder side rails (10) starting at the front edge of the platform plate (4) of the platform assembly (8) facing the user of the ladder, with a top edge parallel to the top surface of platform plate (4), and then angles downwardly to the top of the platform plate (4), then extends down to be flush with the bottom edge of U-shaped angled aluminum piece (5). The side support pieces (3) also have a cutout on the back bottom side of the side supports (see FIG. 4) that is designed to allow the platform assembly (8) to sit flat on top surface of a ladder rung (11).

[0021] Two angled support pieces, made of 1×1 inch 90° angled aluminum (2) are attached flush along the front edge of the side support pieces (3). They extend outwardly, and on an upward angle so that the downward end contacts the top of extended side of angled aluminum angle piece (1), and the outward extending side of the 90° angled aluminum (2) is parallel with and contacts bottom surface on ladder side rails (10) of extension ladder (7) for support when in use.

[0022] There is a cutout (9) in the platform plate (4) to allow for simple installation and removal of platform assembly (8) with one hand so that the user is able to hold onto ladder (7) with other hand for safety. 

What I claim as my invention is:
 1. A combination step/toolbox platform comprising: a platform with vertical sides that have an upward sloped outwardly extending angled edge that overlaps extension ladder side rails corresponding to the angle formed by an extension ladder side rails when in use against a vertical surface.
 2. A combination step/toolbox platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tool storage area is formed by a downward extending 90 degree angled U-shaped aluminum piece attached to the bottom of inwardly extending end of said platform and a flatbar piece of alumimnum attached at its ends to the ends of U shaped aluminum piece and a piece of aluminum plate attached by welding to the bottom edges of the downward extended pieces of angled and flatbar aluminum.
 3. A combination step/toolbox platform as claimed in claim 2, wherein a step is formed by two diamond plate patterned aluminum pieces connected by a piano hinge extending between vertical sides of said step/toolbox platform with outwardly piece of aluminum plate being fixed and inwardly piece of plate functioning as the lid for toolbox storage.
 4. A combination step/toolbox platform as claimed in claim 3, wherein said toolbox is secured with attached two part latch with one part centered on inner most upper edge of inner plate and the other part at the top of downward extending U-shaped aluminum piece of step toolbox platform to prevent items in tool storage area from falling out as step toolbox platform is installed and removed from extension ladder. 